# Senators Urge Agencies to Protect Silicon Carbide Supply

Six U.S. senators urged the Secretaries of Defense and Commerce to use existing authorities—including Defense Production Act authorities, critical-mineral designations, and Buy America requirements—to preserve and strengthen U.S. and allied silicon carbide manufacturing. The letter identifies a potential supply-chain and defense-industrial-base concern tied to competition with China, but it does not announce a solicitation, contract award, funding amount, or procurement timeline. Manufacturers and contractors in silicon carbide and related supply chains should watch for subsequent agency actions rather than treat the request as a new requirement or funded opportunity.

- The proposed tools could affect future defense sourcing, domestic production support, or critical-mineral treatment if the departments take action; none is announced in the signal.
- Companies involved in silicon carbide manufacturing or related supply chains can assess their domestic and allied production capacity and sourcing information in light of the authorities cited in the senators’ letter.
- There is no current solicitation or deadline to pursue. Industry stakeholders can follow subsequent actions by the Departments of Defense and Commerce, as the signal recommends.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Information Technology
**Published:** October 03, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce)
- U.S. Senate

### Sources
- [Cotton, Senators to Hegseth, Lutnick: Preserve Domestic Critical Mineral Supply Chain to Beat Communist China - Senator Tom Cotton](https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-senators-to-hegseth-lutnick-preserve-domestic-critical-mineral-supply-chain-to-beat-communist-china/) - Cotton Senate